Closure for horizontal coking chambers



mh 181, 94L J, s, POTTER 2 CLOSURE FOR HORIZONTAL COKING CHAMBERSOriginal Filed June 12, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY March 18, 1941.J. s. POTTER OLOSURE FOR HORIZONTAL OOKINO CHAMBERS 1937 2 Sheets-ShamI2 NVENTOR ATTO R N EY Patented Mar. 18, 1941 CLO SURE FOR HORIZONTALCOKING CHAMBERS .l'oel Sanford Potter, West Nyack, N. Y., assigner, bymesne assignments, to Wilputte Coke ven Corporation, New York, N. Y., acorporation of Maine Original application June 12, 1937, Serial No.147,878. Divided and this application January 31, 1939, Serial No.253,765

4 Claims.

The general object of the present invention is to provide an improvedend closure for a horizontally elongated coking chamber of the typeemployed for the production of metallurgical coke, A somewhat morespecifically stated object of the invention, is to provide improvementsin the construction of a plug type self-sealing coke oven door, and inthe means for guiding the door into and supporting it in its normalclosed position.

All plug type self-sealing colse oven doors now in use, of which I haveknowledge, are alike, in that each includes a flexible sealing memberpart of sheet steel which overlaps and has a portion engaging a, sealingsurface on the door frame surrounding the doorway closed by the door andinto which the `plug section of the door extends, and in that the doorincludes` connections between a rigid outer section of the door and saidflexible part, which are adjustable to bend the flexible part asrequired to bring its engaging portion contour into conformity with thatof the door frame sealing surface. In some such doors the said flexiblepart is a through plate interposed between the plug section and outersection of the doors and of itself forming a complete barrier to gasflow into or out of the oven through the doorway closed by the door. Inother such doors, the said iieXib-le part is attached to and forms alateral extension from a rigid portion of the door uniting with theflexible part to provide a barrier to gas flow into and out of the ovenchamber.

Every plug type self-sealing coke oven door now in use in this country,of which I have knowledge, includes one or more locking bars mounted onthe rigid outer section of the door, and nut and screw, or spring meansadapted to create a force acting between each locking bar and the outerdoor section in the direction to spread them apart, whereby` with thelocking bar in engagement with the usual retaining hook carried by thedoor frame, the locking bar is restrained against movement outward awayfrom the door n frame sealing surface and the rigid door section isforced inward to thereby press the flexible sealing part against thesealing surface and establish the' door sealing pressure. In the use ofsuch doors, it is practically desirable that the movement of the rigidouter door section, occurring while the flexible sealing part is pressedagainst door frame sealing surface be in a horizontal direction, andinclude no substantial vertical component.

A specic object of the invention is to provide a coke oven door frameand door arrangement in which the weight of the door, when in itsclose'd position, is suspended from the top or lintel portion of thedoor frame, through a rigid hook extension of the rigid outer section ofthe door, and in which the coacting hook extension.' and lintel engagingsurfaces are shaped to permit frame, as the door is moved horizontallyinto its,

closed position. The present application is a division of theapplication for my prior Patent No. 2,157,569, granted May 9, 1939.

The various features of novelty which characterize my invention arepointed out with pari.

ticularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of thisspecification. For a better understanding of the invention, however, itsadvantages, and speciiic objects attained with its use,

reference should be had to the accompanying` drawings and descriptivematter in which I have illustrated and described a preferred embodimentof the invention.

Of the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a coke oven battery structureincluding a self sealing door constructed in accordance with the presentinvention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line 2 2. of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a partial horizontal section on the line 3-3 of Fig. l; i

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on the line Li--ri of Fig. l; and

Fig. 5 is a partial section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4.

The coke oven end closure shown in the drawings, includes a removableplug door comprising a rigid outer metallic section A, a flexiblemetallic sealing section B, and an inner plug section C. The latterconsists largely of ceramic material, and in the closed position of thedoor, extends into and forms a stopper or plug substantially filling oneend of a coking chamber D, at the margin of which is located a rigidmetallic door frame member E. Ordinarily, and as shown, the latterextends into a recess D', formed in the coke oven brickwork D2, andsurrounds and forms a metallic lining for, the mouth of doorway portionof the coking chamber. The

door frame member E is suitably anchored in place in the coke ovenmasonry. The anchoring means, not shown in the drawings, may comprisedetachable connections between the door frame member E and thebuclrstays d at the ends of the heating walls, as disclosed in theUnited States Patent No. 2,025,967, granted December 3l, 1935. The doorframe member is formed with a sealing surface E transverse to the ovenaxis, and extending about the doorway. At the bottom of the oven, thedoor engages and provides support for a metallic door sill member E2.The door frame E is also formed with upper and lower door positioningparts, as hereinafter described.

The rigid outer door section A may be a metal casting, but,advantageously, and as shown, it comprises a heavy rolled channel barbody portion, and cast steel top and bottom members A and A2 welded tothe ends of said body portion. To minimize the door weight, end portionsof the flanges of the channel bar body portion may be beveled off asindicated at A5.

The sealing member B, in the particular form illustrated, comprises aplate of sheet steel having a rim or flange portion B bent transverselyto the body portion of the plate, so that the free edge of the rimportion may abut against the door frame sealing surface E. The bodyportion of the sealing member, thus forms a so-called through plate,which extends across the door opening and overlaps the sealing surfaceE' in the closed position of the door. The body portion of the sealingmember is interposed between the plug section C and the outer doorsection A, and projects laterally beyond the margin or side edge of eachof the door sections C and A. Such lateral extension of the ilexiblesealing member of the door is essential, in general, in any form of aself-sealing coke oven door. For the general purposes of the presentinvention, however, the use of a sealing member which is of the throughplate type, or which has a transverse rim portion integrally connectedto the body portion of the sealing member, is not essential.

In the particular door construction illustrated, the plug section of thedoor comprises a bottom member in the form of a metal casting includinga horizontal shelf-like body portion C adapted to overlap the door sillE?, and a vertical flange portion C2, depending from the outer edge ofthe shelf` portion. The lower edge of the flange Cl extends intoengagement with the upper side of the horizontal bottom portion of thesealing rim B, and the outer side of ange C2 is clamped against theadjacent surface of the through plate or body portion of the sealingmember, by clamping screws F.

A vertical metallic post C4, advantageously welded or bolted to thebottom casting C', is surrounded, except at its outer edge by ceramicmaterial, which is interlocked with the post, and which may be amonolithic mass, or a column of rire bricks or blocks. At its upper end,the post C4 is connected to the sealing member B, by means of a plate G,formed with an aperture through which the reduced upper portion of thepost C4 extends, and detachably connected to the plate B, by means ofbolt parts Gr welded to the plate G, and extending through the member Bas shown in Fig. 2.

The upper end of the post C4 is covered by a detachable refractory blockforming the top section of the plug section of the door. The latterextends nearly to the top of the oven chamber in a coke side door, butin the pusher side door provided with a levelling bar door Q as is shownin the drawings, the top of the cap member C5, must not extend above thelevel of the lower edge of the levelling bar door opening.

In the door construction illustrated, the entire weight of the plug andsealing sections of the door, and of the levelling bar door part carriedby the sealing section, is supported by a narrow inwardly extendingprojection A4 from the bottom part A2 of the rigid outer section of thedoor. In the closed position of the door the projection A4 extendsbetween the side walls of a recess or guide way E3 formed in the bottomportion of the door frame member E, and open at its outer side. Theweight of the plug section of the door is transmitted to the projectionA4 through the portion of the sealing member flange B interposed betweenthe upper side of the projection A4 and the lower edge of the ilange C2of the plug section bottom casting.

The top member A' of the outer frame section of the door is formed witha hook portion or projection A5, extending inwardly over the top portionof the sealing member B. In the normal closed condition of the door, theprojection A5 extends into a recess E4, formed in the top or lintelportion of the door frame member E, and having a smooth horizontalbottom Wall surface E5 on which the corresponding horizontal undersideof the hook A5 bears as shown in Fig. 2. The entire weight of the dooris thus transmitted to the horizontal wall surface E5 of the door framemember through the hook part A5 of the outer door section.Advantageously, the side walls EG of the recesses E3 and E4, have outerportions E5 outwardly ared to guide the door into place in the doorclosing operation, and have inner portions between which the projectionsA4 and A5 are received without unnecessary clearance or freedom forlateral displacement.

As shown, each of the adjustable connections between the sealing memberB and the outer door section A, comprises a member H connected at itsinner end to the sealing member B, and having a horizontal bar-like bodyportion formed with a longitudinal slot H. The slot receives inner andouter wedges I and J, which have their remote edges in engagement withthe end Walls of the slot H, while their adjacent edges bear against theinner and outer edges respectively of projection K and K from theadjacent portion of the rigid outer door section A. As shown the parts Kand K are steel bar sections welded to the adjacent portion of the doorsection A and are spaced apart to provide a space receiving the bodyportion ofthe member H, and are formed with notches K2 which receive thewedges I and J, thus holding the latter and the part H against movementlaterally toward or away from the adjacent portion of the door sectionA. The bottom Walls of the notches K2 are inclined to the vertical, tocorrespond with the taper of the wedges. As shown, each member H has ayoke or clevis head H2 at its inner end, connected by clevis pin H3 to apiece of plate metal H4. The latter is welded to the outer side of thesealing member B and is formed with an aperture to receive thecorresponding clevis pin H3. Advantageously, and as shown in Fig. 4, thecommon central plane of the wedges I and J and clevis pin H3 iscoincident with, or close to the central plane of the adjacent portionof the sealing member flange or rim B. As will be apparent, each memberH may be given a bodily adjustment towards the coke oven structure byraising the corresponding wedge I 1 gassoso and lowering lthe`correspondingfwed'ge J;` and `by raising the wedge J and lowering'theffadjacent wedge I, the corresponding fmembe'r fHf'may be given anadjustment in the directionf-awayfrom the'oven chamber. In vpracticethe-wedges will ordinarily be given their ver-tical adjustments byhammer blows.

In the con-struction shownin the drawings, the

i coke oven-door is normally secured in' place with `the proper sealingpressure between the sealing rim`lB and theisealing surface "E' ofthedoor frame, `by upper and lower locking bars L, `each having its endsinengagement with door retain- `ing `hooks E1D carried by the door framemember.

Each ylocking `barLris bodily-movable towards `and away fromA the door,'and the door sealingpressure is due to springs M, oneasscciated witheach locking bar :and acting beifect,` is a bell crank lever having Ian.uprising arm comprising a central part N2` and sidel parts N3, :and :ahorizontal arm` extending outwardly in 1 front'of the shaft/N. The`uprising portion N2 ofthe leverNuacts againstlthe inner side of the yokeL` and the uprisingportions N3 `act against co i the yoke L. leverkN andassociatedflocklng.bar L,l :causes the thel ou'tersides of `pin likeprojections L2 `from The hinge connection between each locking-bar'to-be moved bodily toward Yand away from the door, by :clockwise Iand:counter-clockwise movements, respectively, of the lever N. The pivotshaft N for the upper lever N is j ournalled in a bracket NA, andthepivot' shaft N' for the lowerlever N is journalled in a bracket'NB. The

brackets NA `and NB sare each Ibolted or other- `wise secured'toithenrigid outer door section A,

land `differ vfrom oneranother only inrespect to features of formby'whi-ch they are adapted for engagement by apart-icular form of doormachine and which do not need to `be described herein.

Each lspring M is` compressed between upper and lower washers M' and M2.The lower washer M is seated on the horizontal` arm portion ofthefcorrespondinglever N,.and the upper washer. M2 is `engaged by a nutthreaded on a stem M3. extending axially through the spring and having.transversely extendinglprojeotions M4 at its lower end which engage theunder sides of hooks N4, carried by the corresponding bracket NA and NB.The brackets NA and NB have parts extending over the locking vbarprojections L2 in the assembled condition of the apparatus therebypreventing accidental separation of the locking bar `and associatedlever N.

One advantage of the locking bar arrangement shown, is that it permits.the automatic unlocking of the door and the transfer of the door weightfrom the coke oven structure to a door -handling machne, and lthe returnof .the door weight to the oven structure `and :the relooking of thedoor, in the door opening and closing operations, by up and downmovements, respectively, of a vertically movable door lifting element ofthe door Vmach-ine. To that end the said door machine element is adaptedon its up movement to engage the under sides ofA the'horizontal portions.of the 'lever' member-s N, and to give each of those levers a certain'amount of clockwise-movement, before .the lifting member ensages one orboth of the brackets NA and NB `and begins'lto litt the door in the doorremoving i operation. The clockwise movement thus given 4"thelevers Nshould be sufficient not only to interruptthe normal tendency of thespring M to lspre-ad .the locking bars and door apart, but to liftwthelocking bars out of engagement with the hooks E10.

The weight of the door subjects the rigid outer door section A totension stresses only, whether the` door is suspended from a lintel ofthe door frame E by the projection A5, only, or from the lifting.element of the door machine engaging both ormore, usually the upperonly, of the door parts NAvand NB. The door is Ithus practically `.freefrom stress changes and resultant` strains, as ythe weight of the dooris transferred from-the door frame to the door machine, and

from the latter back to the door frame in the door removing andreplacing operation.

f As previously indicated, the invention claimed herein .is notrestricted to use in and in connection with doors having resilient meansacting between the rigid outer section of the door and the door lockingbars, or in which fthe adjusting connections between the outer sectionof the door and the sealing member are formed by wedges, but is adaptedfor use in doors including the more usual nut `and screw connec-tionsbetween lthe rigid outer .section and the flexible sealing member of thedoor.

30 As will be apparent, the `provisions through which the weight of thedoor is normally suspended from the door frame llintel, permit the doorsealing pressure to be established .and released by movements of therigid outer door section vrelative to the door frame which include novertical components. In consequence, there need be no vertical movementof `the sealing rim B', while it is pressed against the sealing surfaceE by the means establishing the door sealing pressure.

For a full appreciation of the advantages of, the means disclosed :andclaimed herein for normally suspending the door from the top portion ofthe door frame, and for guiding and centering l 'the door as the latteris being moved horizontallyinto its fully closed posi-tion, accountshould be taken of 'the door weight and its temperature and Iotheroperating conditions. Each coke oven, door of the type .illustrated mayweigh in the neighborhood of 3 tons, and its plug section refractorymaterial is normally white hot. The aggregate contact or sealingpressure between the edge of the sealing rim B of each door and the doorframe sealing surface customarily amounts to thousands of pounds. Theexternal parts of the door are customarily exposed to rain, snow,furnace dust and frequently to corrosive gases. The 4character anddisposition of the little shoulder E5 of the surface of the suspensionhook A5 engaging that shoulder are obviously such as to minimizediihculties in establishing the desired door position in each doorclosing operation. The fact that in each door closing oper-ation, somehorizontal movement of the rigid outer section of the door is requiredto establish the sealing pressure, not only keeps the engaging surfacesof the hook A5 :and door frame lintel clean, but also tends to preventashes or coke breeze on the door sill member Eg from interfering withthe proper closed vposition of the door.

The particular coke oven door shown by way of example, in the drawings,is a pusher side" door, and has a rectangular levelling bar opening B5formed in the sealing member B adjacent the top of the door. The portionof the sealing member B adjacent the margin of the opening B5 is clampedbetween an outer levelling bar door frame member O and an innerrectangular cast iron frame member P. The opening B5 is normally closedby a chuck door Q shown as supported by a lever arm R pivotallyconnected to one side of the door frame. The door Q may well be, and asshown, is of the type disclosed and claimed in my copending application,Serial No. 147,879, filed June 12, 1937, said door being adapted forautomatic actuation between a fully closed and locked position, and awide open position by means associated with the pusher machine carried.mechanism for actuating the levelling bar adapted for operation throughthe opening B5. It is unnecessary to make further reference herein tofeatures associated with the chuck door Q for the automatic actuation ofthe latter, particularly as the invention claimed herein is adapted foruse both in :coke oven doors which have no levelling bar openings, andin doors having such openings, and, in the latter case, without regardto the character of the chuck doors associated with such openings.

While in accordance with the provisions of the statutes, I haveillustrated and described the best form of embodiment of my inventionnow known to me, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art thatchanges may made in the form of the apparatus disclosed withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention as set forth in the appendedclaims and that in some cases certain features of my invention may beused to advantage without a corresponding use of other features.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A self-sealing end closure for horizontal coking :chamber comprisinga door frame formed with a recess in its top or lintel portion and witha substantially horizontal bottom wall for said recess, of 'aself-sealing plug type door comprising a plug section and a rigid outersection having an inwardly extending hook portion at its top adapted toenter said recess and engage and be supported by said bottom wall assaid door is being moved horizontally into its closed position in whichsaid plug section extends into said door frame, said bottom wall beingconstructed to receive said hook portion on solely horizontal approachof the latter.

2. A self-sealing end closure for horizontal coking chamber comprising adoor frame formed with a recess in its top or lintel portion, saidrecess having a substantially horizontal bottom wall, of a self-sealingplug type door comprising a plug section and a rigid outer sectionhaving an inwardly extending hook portion at its top adapted to entersaid recess and having a substantially horizontal under surface adaptedto engage and be supported by said bottom wall when said door is in itsclosed position in which said plug section extends into said door frame,said recess having side walls above said bo-ttom wall and extendingoutwardly beyond the outer edge of said bottom wall, and adapted toguide said hook portion for horizontal movement of the door into itsclosed position, said bottom wall being constructed to receive said hookportion on solely horizontal approach of the latter.

3. A self-sealing end closure for a horizontal coking chamber comprisinga door frame formed with a vertically extending sealing surface and witha recess having a substantially horizontal bottom wall in the top orlintel portion of the door frame and with a recess in the portion of thedoor frame beneath the doorway, of a selfsealing plug type doorcomprising a plug section adapted to extend into said door frame and arigid outer section having inwardly extending hook portions at top andbottom respectively adapted for horizontal movement into the rst andsecond mentioned recesses into a position in which the hook portion atthe top of the door engages and rests upon said bottom wall, said dooralso comprising exible sealing means adapted to be forced into sealingengagement with said surface by horizontal movement of said rigidsection, said bottom wall being constructed to receive said hook portionon solely horizontal approach of the latter.

4. A self-sealing end closure for horizontal coking chamber comprising adoor frame formed with a recess, in the top or lintel portion of thedoor frame and with a substantially horizontal bottom wall for saidrecess of a self-sealing door comprising a rigid outer section having aninwardly extending hook portion at its top adapted to enter said recessand having a substantially horizontal under side surface portion adaptedto engage and rest on said bottom wall, said bottom wall beingconstructed to receive said hook portion on solely horizontal approachof the latter.

JOEL SANFORD POTTER.

